Apparatus for sorting rivets



July 25, 1944 G. E. LINGERFELT ET Al.. 2,354,419

APPARATUS FOR SORTING' RIVETS V 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l0, 1941 iff/42 W/WW #WSN mmf By /A/ 5. 779007',

l /ITTaR/vEy,

Juny 25, 1944.

G. E. LINGERFELT ETAL APPARATUS FOR SQRTING RIVETS Filed" March l0, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 NQ n.2

G. E. LINGERFELT ET AL APPARATUS FOR SORTING RIVETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March lO, 1941 ./1 Tro/eNEy,

' would during invention to provide a Patented July 25, 1944 Granville E. Linge Angeles, Lingerfelt .elt and Evelyn B. Trout, Los Calif.; said Trout assignor to said v Application March 10, 1941, Serial No. 382,484

6 Claims. l (Cl. 209-75) other foreign matterin addition to the rivets are sought to be reclaimed and, through a series of -sequential steps or operations, will separate; classify and deliver the rivets 'to separate receptacles according to the size and shape of the rivet heads and the length and diameter of the Vshanks or stems.

An important object'of our invention is to provide meansfor sorting both flat and round headed rivets and further, to provide means whereby rivets having the same diameter heads,

' but different diametersteins, may be segregated.

Another object of our invention is to provide simple and easily operated means for sorting rivets-according to the degree of curvature of the heads and the diameters thereof.

One of the principal objects of our invention is, to provide means for reclaiming rivets or the like from intermingled trash which has been swept and recovered from the floors of factories such as aircraft plants or other manufacturing establishments where large numbers of rivetsare used. r

Inmany factories and particularly in the large plants now engaged exclusively in the manufacture of aircraft, large numbers of rivets are used in the fabrication of the craft andthe workmen engaged in setting the rivets do not retrieve those rivets.- that drop to the oor, for such practice the working periods involve considerable loss of time and consequent production costs, and it is one of the principal objects of our method of andapparatus for reclaiming -the dropped rivets for re-use in a practical and economic manner and at a cost considerably less than that of new rivets.

With the foregoing and other objects `in view, our invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that Awill be hereinafter 'more fully ldescribed and claimed a'nd illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of the apparatus which receives the iioor sweepings and which eventually deposits the sorted parts into a shaker.

Fig. 2 is a plan Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the shown .in

Fig. 4' is a schematic view of detail perspective view o f a mag- A netic roller used in the apparatus.

the means for lliv 60 ing and controlling A gaugev shown driving and controlling the various parts of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.` 1.

, Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of used in the shaker.

Fig. 'I is a vertical section taken through the center of the shaker pan'and the draw plate used in connection therewith.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the shaker pan and draw plate in inverted position.

Fig. 9 isa s'de elevation of that portion of the apparatus wherein the iiat headed 'rivets are sorted.

Fig. 10 is a plan Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line li-ll of Fig. 10 and showing the drive and control for the feed belt.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view I2|2 of Fig. 11 and showing .Fig 13 is a sectional view l3l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional -view taken on the line II--Il` of Fig. 10, showing the air manifold and one of the pans view of the parts shown in taken on the line the clutch control. taken on the line Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken on -the line ls-is of Fig. 16.

a5 Fig. 19 is a perspective view :of the guide bai used to guide the rivets on the belt.

partly in section' of Fig. 20 is a side elevation that part of the apparatus .used for sorting round o headed rivets.

Fig. 21 isa plan view partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a `sectional view taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21,'showing means for removing undersized rivets..

Fig. 23 is a perspectiveview' of the adjustable in Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a sectional -u of Fig. 2o, showing the the flow or travel of a view taken on the line means for retardrivets.

. Fig. 25 is a sectional 25-25 of Fig. 20, showing the feed belt and pulley, the drive wheel and air old.

Fig. 26 is a sectional view taken on the line' row of view -taken on the line i are provided with a Fig. 28 is a sectional view taken on the line.

28-28 of Fig. 27, showing the wheel for rejecting certain sizes of rivets.

Fig. 29 is an enlarged detail of part of the wheel shown in Fig. 28, showing the rejection of a. certain form of rivet.

Fig. 30 is a view similar to Fig. 29, showing the rejection of another form of rivet.

Fig. 31 is another similar view showing a certain form of rivet being carried by the belt past the wheel.

Figs. 32 and 33 show modified forms of feed belts designed for special forms of rivets.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, l designates a platform adapted to support a container 2 that is lled with door sweepfrom an aircraft plant, said sweepings conmagnetizable.

The oor sweepings are dumped into hopper 3 from which they are fed in a. measured stream by means of gate 4 and flexible throat 5, onto an endless belt 6. The forward end of belt 6 is carried by a magnetic roller 1 which attracts and holds against the belt all magnetizable parts such 'I'he aluminum rivets, being nonfmagnetizable continue from belt 6, sorting" belt Il and receiving parts other than rivets, picked out by an operator. The rivets are allowed to move along on belt I to a guide chute l 6 which deposits them into the top pair of a shaker i1.

The shaker l1 (see Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8) 1s supported upon a plurality of upright legs I8, I9, and 2|, having a plate 22 fixed adjacent the lower ends thereof, to support a shaft 23, journalled in bearings 24 and 25, carried by the plate 22. Centrally located upon shaft 23 is a strapcam 30 adapted to reciprocate an upright arm 3| which is pivoted to ears 32 carried by shaker plate 33.

said parts being above the shaker plate and the lowermost pan The sorting pans 33, and between the plate is a bumper pad 34. 35 are of uniform depth exsegregate each 35 is provided with a lid 36' The pans 35 and 36 are side walls 31 and 38 The bottom walls 39 separate pan. Pan and aweight W.

provided with upright and are open at the top. and 40 of the sorting pans plurality oi uniform apersorted.

The pan below he top pan is provided with .of the rivets of a apertures slightly less in diameter than the heads size next smaller than the largest rivets, and the aperturesl in the succeeding pans become progressively smaller in diameter to the lowermost pan 4I,I which receives the smallest size of rivets. This panhas an iniperforate bottom wall 42 which is supported by the bumper pa'd 34.

In the use of our we have found that arately from the round headed rivets.

end we provide a table 43, adjacent the on which we provide an apparatus for sorting the flat headed rivets according to the length of the To this stems of the rivets, it being understood that rivets corresponding to the stem diameter oi' one size of rivets to be sorted. A draw plate 48 is also adapted to cooperate with the turnover pan in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Table 43 is provided at opposite ends of its front edge 49 with a pair of pulleys 5U and 5|, carrying a thin, endless steel belt 52, the upper portion of which passes along the front edge of the table, ush `with the upper surface thereof, as in Figs. 10 and 16.

As shown in Fig. 11, the pulley 50 is carried on shaft 53 which is journalled in bearings 54 of table 43. Power is transmitted to shaft 53 by means of a freely mounted pulley 55 driven by belt 56.

A collar 53a is fixed on shaft 53 to limit the movement of pulley 55 in one direction.

Integral with the end of pulley 55 opposite the end that bears against the collar 53a isa flange 51 provided withl a clutch face 58 adapted to be I engaged by a complementary flange 59 nxedo'n the end of a sleeve'53b that is loosely mounted on shaft 53, in order the shaft. f

To move Athe fiange 59 into and out of engagement with clutch face 58, we provide a thrust collar (il),v fixed to the shaft 53,.adjacent the end the intermediate portion is an expansive coil spring 62.

o1' pulleys 50 u f Supportedrby table 43, parallel to its front edgey To control the clutch on shaft 53, we provide a foot pedal 83 supported by bearings 64. of parallel links The fOOt pedal 83 is provided with a lug 1I adapted to and 5l and belt 52.

49. and slightly overhanging the steel belt 52, as

shaker,

43 is provided with a reservoir pan are dumped sorted rivets taken from to control the rotation of in Fig. 15, is n heights from the surface of belt 52, as shown in Fig. 14. Oppositely disposed to the manifold 13 are a series of parallel bins 83, spaced so that each bin is aligned with a jet 82. Control gates 84 are provided for each of the bins 85, the rear walls of which have discharge openings 85 at the end of the inclined bottoms 86.

As shown in Figs. 10, 16 and 17, a gauge plate 81 is provided adjacent the inner end'of the manifold 13, and by means of slot 88 and screw 89 may be adjustably positioned adjacent the inner edge of belt 52. Disposed adjacent the outer edge of the overrunning portion of belt 52 between pulley which is fixed to the table by screws adjacent its left hand end, the free right hand endthereof terminating opposite gauge plate 81. The free end of guide strip 88 is increased in height as at 92, and said free end is made adjustable with respect to the outer edge of belt 52, by means of an adjpsting screw 93 and a limiting screw 84 which pass through bracket 85 (see Fig. 18).

Referring to the means for driving the appara- `tus thus far described, we have provided as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a prime mover, preferably an electric motor 86, having a pulley 81 connected 58 and manifold 15 is-a guide strip 88 as in Fig. '1, and a quantity of rivets from reservoir 44 are placed thereon. The rivets having the proper stem diameter are workedinto the apertures 41' by manipulation and pressure of the operators hands or with a suitable brush.

The lrivets having an underslzed stem diameter, being loose in the apertures 41' are. readily removed. by a manually operated section hose (not shown) or'other suitable means.

. when the apertures 41' are fined with nvets of the proper stem diameter, the turnover pan 45 is covered with draw plate 48 to secure the heads of the rivets and the two are then overturned into the position shown in Fig. 8. The draw plate 48 is then slid out from under the heads of the rivets and the turnover pan 45 is carefully raised,

leaving parallel rows of rivets standing on their heads adjacent the belt 52.

` The operator, with a straight edge or the like, now pushes the nearest row of rivets onto the slow moving belt 52, the guide strip 98 serving to keep the rivets in alignment (see Fig. 16) as they move toward the air manifold 13. The free end of guide strip 88 terminates opposite the gauge plate 81 just short of manifold 13. At this point,

' see Fig. 16, the row of rivets is guided and aligned at the proper distance from the jets 82 of maniby a belt 81' to a speed reducing pulley 88. l'

Pulley 98 is carried by shaft 99 which is also provided with a speed reducing pulley |88 that is connected by belt |8| to a flywheel type of pulley |82. 'I'he shaft |88 carries pulley |82 and roller |83 at a slow rate of speed, insuring a slow feed for belt 5. The forward end of belt 6 is carried on magnetic roller 'I which is mounted on shaft |81. Shaft |81 carries pulley |85 which is connected to pulley |84 of shaft |83 by means of belt |86. Shaft |81 also carries sprocket |88 which is connected to sprocket |88 of shaft I|8 by means of chain III. The shaft I|8 carries the roller I which drives the belt I8 at a slow rate of speed.

The forwardend of belt I8 is carried by. roller I2, mounted on shaft I2'. The shaft I2" is provided with a wilde pulley |'I2 that is connected to a pulley II3 fixed to shaft 23 of the shaker I1, by belt ||4. .A loose pulley ||5 is also provided on the shaft 23 so that the belt I I4 may be shifte'd thereon by a belt shifter (not shown), for stopping the shaker when the pans arelbeing removed and replaced.

The shaft 28 is provided on its other end with a pulley- I I8 that is connected. by belt 56 to the loose pulley '55 on shaft 53 (see Fig. 11) thusprovidinga drive for the steel belt 52.

As hereinbefore stated, it is found desirable to sort the flat headed rivetson a separate part `of the'apparatus as shown in Figs. 4 to 19 in- The turnover pan 45 is placed on the table 48,l 1l

fold 13.

As shown in Fig. 14, the rst jet 82 of the air manifold 18 is the highest from belt 52, and is positioned just below the end of the stem of the longest size of rivets to b stored. A stream of air from jet 82 will strike the rivet (see Fig. l5) and propel it onto the inclined bottom 88 of the bin 83 which is located opposite the jet in use. The rivet will pass through discharge opening into the container C utilized for that particular size of rivet after the gate 84 is opened.

The jets 82 being disposed in an inclined row, are of a sulcient number to accommodate all .the different sizes of rivets. The first jet provides a. stream of air that will strike the rivets having the longest shanks, the next jet takes care of the rivets having the next longest shanks and so on up to the last jet, which is close enough t0 the belt to take care of the rivets having the shortest shanks.

'I'he succeeding'rows of rivets are sorted in a like manner, until each of the bins 83 is filled with rivets 'of a uniform head size, stem diameter and length. The different sizes of rivets are then discharged into separate containers and returned .l

to the riveting department for re-use.

The method and apparatus for reclaiming round headed rivets, while presenting special problems, due to the different shapes of the heads, is essentially an integral part of the complete apparatus and embodies the same general principles.

As shown in Figs. 20 and 21, the round headed rivets which have been passed through the apparatus shown in Figs; land 2, are taken from the pans of the shaker I1, where they have been sorted into uniform head siz'es, and are poured into a tumbler barrel ||8, supported forl rotation uponv rollers I|8a. A series of inwardly extending ribs |I9, within the barrel, are adapted to liftv charge through openings |24 into a suitable conA shafts |30 and |3I, journalled in adjustable bearings |32 and |33. Accurate alignment of pulleys |28 and |29 is assured by adjusting screws |34' and |35 which are threaded through nuts |36 and |31 fixed to the base members |38 and I 39. Graduations |40 on the base members are used to facilitate accurate adjustment of said pulleys.

As Vshown in Fig. 22, the steel belt |22 is supported by bars |4| and |42, fixed to base members |43 and |44. Swivelly connected to the base member |44 are arms |45 and |46 carrying suction hoses |41 and |48 for a purpose to be later described.

Between the pulleys 28 and |29 we provide a device that will permit removal of all rivets Whose stem diameters are smaller than the size desired to be reclaimed. To this end we provide on one side of the belt |22 a drive wheel |50 (see Fig, 22) having a drive pulley |50 mounted on shaft |5| and a resilient tire |I' to engage a certain type of rivets of uniform size and shape. Oppositely disposed to wheel |50 isi a gauge block |52, threaded into the nut portion I 53 of a bracket |54, for engaging the rivets from the opposite side.

The next step in the method is to sort the rivets according to shape of the heads and the length of the stems. The rivets, upon reaching the end of belt |22, are fed upon a slotted, inclined, transfer tlrack |55, which is supported by frame member To retard the flow of the rivets down the transfer track |55, and evenly space the same, we fix to the track, as in Fig. 24, split rings |51, provided with an expanding bolt I 58 that threads into one side of the ring |51 and ab-uts the other side. A flexible strip |59 is centrally carried by bolt |58 and is adapted to yieldingly engage the heads of the rivets.

An air manifold |60, similar in principle to the manifold 13, is supported, as in Figs. 26 and 27, in an inclined position, and a steel belt |6I is arranged to move along the upper part of the fane thereof. The belt |6I Fig. 25)

vAs shown in Figs. and 21, the transfer track |55 is inclined both vertically and laterally so as to overlap pulley I 62 and guide the rivets onto the inclined belt |6I so that they will overhang the face of the manifold |60, as in Fig. 26. A pin =I65 is fixed to the manifold between the pulleys |62 and |63 to support the belt I 6|. A feed wheel I62a, driven by pulley |62b, is positioned above pulley |62 to engage the rivets and feed the same upon belt I6| as they leave the track |55.

'I'he rivets that reach the belt |6| are now of the proper headand stem diameter, but some of the rivets may have heads of different head curvature as shown in Figs. 29 and 30. To remove these head types before they reach the manifold |60.'

is carried on pulleys |62 and |63 Journalled in frame members |64 (see IIS In aircraft Work or the like, one series of rivets may differ in length by 0f an inch while another 'series may differ by 1*; of an inch. In order to handle more than one series of rivets, We provide through the wall forming the face of the manifold |60 (see Fig, 27) a pair of inclined rows of jet openings |10 and I1|. The openings |10 vary in distance from belt |6I, by s1, of an inch so as to engage the rivets that differ from each other byfthat distance. The openings |1I vary in distance from belt I6| by 11g of an inch so as to engage the rivets that differ from each other by that distance.

The manifold |60 is provided with air, at one end by a valve |12, the air flowing through a passage |13 defined by a wall |14.

Seated in the lower end'wall of the air manifold |60 are the outer ends of tubes |15 that extend through air chamber |13, through wall |14, and the upper ends 'of these tubes communicate respectively with the individual jet openings |10 and |1I.

The ends of the tubes |15 that lproject outwardly from the lower end wall of the housing |60 are threaded for the reception of nuts |1511, which nuts carry needle valves |11, the pointed ends |16 of which are adapted to engage corresponding seats formed Within the tubes |15 and thereby control the flow of compressed air throughsaid tubes and the jet openings |10 and |1I.

Formed through the lower portions of the tubes l |15 and communicating with the air passage' |13 are air inlet apertures I15b. These apertures are located to the rear of the seats for the pointed ends of the needle valves |11 (see' Figs. 26 and 27).

A series of compartments or bins |18, 4similar to bins 83 are provided co-extensive with the manifold so that each bin is aligned to receive rivets from a pair of jets |10 and |1|. Gates |19 are arranged to controlthe discharge of rivets from the bins.

Modified forms of rivet carrying belts are shown in Figs. 32 and 33. Special forms of rivets |80 and |8I are formed with centrally disposed projecting tits or nubs |82 and |83 and to permit these rivets to rest'upon the belts head down, it is ,The final step in the method is to sort the rivets 7 according to the length of the stems.

necessary.to provide a groove I 84 in belt |85. A similar result is obtained by using two belts I 86 and |81 in`parallel relation to accommodate the nubs |83.

The apparatus Afor sorting round headed rlvets'is provided with motive power from the motor 96 by means of a pulley |88 (see Fig. 4), connected by belt |89 to idler pulleys |90. Pulley |90 is connected by belt I9| to pulley |92 and a clutch |93 is interposed to control the drive. The pulley |92 is connected by bevel gears 93a to pulley |95, which is connected by belt |94 to pulley |95 on shaft |96. A pulley |91 on shaft |96 drives the tumbler barrel I8 by means of belt |98. The shaft |96 also carries a pulley |99 which is connected by .belt 200 'to a double, change speed pulley 20| on shaft I3I. Pulley 20| is also connected by belt 202 to a pulley I for imparting motion to the drive wheel |50. A

'The shaft I3| is alsoprovided with a triple pulley 204 connected by a half-crossed belt 205 to a pulley |62b onshaft 201. Pulley |6211 is used to drive wheel I 62a. yas in Fig. 25. Also located on shaft 201 is pulley 208 which by means of belt 209, drives pulley |68 on gauge wheel |66. The pulley |29 is carried by shaft |3I which also carries pulley 2I0, connected by belt 2II to pulley 2 I2 for driving pulley |62.

Referring to the operation of the apparatus for sorting round headed rivets, it will be noted in Figs. 20 and 21, that round headed rivets taken from one of the pans of the shaker '|1 may be inserted into the tumbler barrel I through the open end. The inwardly extending ribs ||9 of the barrel lifts the rivets and drops some of them into the scoop |20, from which they gravitate down the slotted, inclined track to the double belt |22 where they are carried along, suspended by their heads.

The rivets at this point are uniform as to head diameter but varied as to head curvature, stem diameter and stem length. To sort out rivets of undersized stem diameter, the wheel |50 and gauge block |52 are utilized to permit passage of the certain sized rivets, While the othersl are lifted from the belt by suction hose |48. The hose |41 may be used by an operator to pick out 'foreign matter or parts from the belt as they leave the guide I2 I.

The rivets move along beyond-belt |22, over transfer track |55 and onto belt |6| where they are fed by wheel |02a to a point in front of gauge wheel |66 where rivets of different head sizes or curvature are removed from the belt. The rivets are now ofv proper size except as to the length of the stems. Y

As the rivets move along the belt; |6I, the ends l of the stems areprogressively engaged by air jets continuously issuing from the graduated air jet openings |10 or |1I. The rivets are kicked or propelled upwardly and rearwardly as illustrated by dotted lines, Fig. 26, into classied bins |10 from whence they may be discharged into suitable containers.

Vacuum or air suction hose similar to the hoses |41 and |40 may be provided above and adiacent the sorting belt |0 and the table 43, which hose may be conveniently manipulated by the operators standing adjacent the tables |-and d3, thus enabling the separation of .defective rivets from those rivets that pass inspection, and likewise providingfor the ready removal of rivets composed of diii'erent alloys and which have different degrees of hardness. It is the practice of rivet manufacturers to apply to such rivets identifying marks to indicate the different 'alloys or degrees of hardness and which marks generally take the form of minute indentations or"dim ples or minute studs or projections on the centers of the rivet heads. Y

Further, the operator or operators working at table 43 'may readily inspect all rivets that are lined up on the table and with a straight edge moved onto belt 52,v and while this work is being done the operator may readily note and remove any rivets having bent or defective shanks 'or stems, thus adding materially to the effectiveness of the sorting and classification of the rivets.

From the foregoing it is evident that we have provided apparatus for. separating rivets fr0m sweepings containing Waste products and elementsor partsof ferrous metal, sorting the iiat and round headed rivets into a number of-classications as to diameter and curvature of the heads and diameter and length of the stems, and

also separating the rivets composed of different aluminum alloys and which have different degrees of hardness. This work is done in a simple, practical and emcient manner which enables us to receive the oor sweepings from the factory, sort out trash and miscellaneous parts and return the classied rivets to the factory at a cost substantially less than that of new rivets.

'I'he apparatus herein shown is merely illustrative and numerous minor changes may be rivets and the likethe combination with a table,. an endless carrier operating along one side of said table and adapted to receive and carry rivets, an air manifold arranged vadjacent the discharge end of said carrier and said manifold being provided in its side wallv adjacent the over running portion of said belt with a row of jet openings for directing jets of air against the stems of the rivets carried by said carrier to expel said rivets from said carrier and the individual openings forming said row being located at different distances from the rivet carrier, of rotary means for engaging at least, the heads of some of the rivets and removing the rivets having such heads from the endless carrier. r

2. The combination as set forth in claim l and with .receptacles for receiving the rivets projected from said carrier by said jets of air.

3. In an apparatus for sorting and classifying rivets and the like, an endless carrier comprising a pairof spaced parallell members, means for delivering rivets onto the over-running portion of said carrier, with the rivets resting upon the spaced members and the stems of lthe. rivets l passing between said members, an inclined endthe supported portion of the carrier and valvular means for controlling the ow of air through said iet openings.

e. An apparatus for sorting and classifying rivets and the like as set forth in claim 3 and with air suction means for removing rivets from the carrier comprising the spaced parallel endless members. f

5. In an apparatus for sorting rivets, the combination of means providing two surfaces arranged at approximately right angles to each other, an endless belt having a reach traversing one of the surfaces adjacent the line ofintersection of said surfaces, said belt being adaptedI to have rivets deposited thereon with the shanks lying adjacentthe belt and the heads projecting over the edge of the belt and over the other of said surfaces, and a rotary gauge wheel mounted for rotation adjacent said edge of the beltv for engaging the heads of some of the rivets ,and removing them 4'from the belt.

6. In a rivet sorting apparatus, the combination with means operative to receive and carry rivets in a row along a definite path of travel with the rivet heads uppermost, of rotary means located adjacent said rivet receiving and carrying means and operating on an axis parallel with the path of travel of the row of rivets for engaging at least some of' the heads of the rivets and removing .the rivets having such heads from the carrying means and means located beyond said rotary means in the direction of travel of the rivets, for directing air jets against the shanks of -the rivets which pass the rotary means and made without departing -froml the spirit of the 

